Volume 3, Part Six. Although the Mormon leaders surrendered at Far West on November 1, Mormons (especially in outlying areas) continued to be subject to harassment and even forced ejection by citizens and Militia units. The Mormons divided into three columns led by David W. Patten, Charles C. Rich, and James Durphee. Brigham Young and the Apostles lead the Mormons to Illinois. Sheriff Morgan was ridden through town on an iron bar, and died shortly afterward from the injuries he suffered during the ride. Persecution from the government only increased as the Mormon Church continued to grow. Violence broke out in 1833 as the “Old Settlers” under the guise of “extra-legal” justice took the law into their own hands. With peace restored, Smith's group returned to Caldwell County. Tensions built up between the rapidly growing Mormon community and the earlier settlers for a number of reasons: These tensions led to harassment and mob violence against the Mormon settlers. There is a discretionary power vested in my hands, which concerning your circumstances I will exercise for a season...[22][23]. We, the undersigned, citizens Jackson County, believing that an important crisis is at hand, as regards our civil society, in consequence of a pretended religious sect of people that have settled, and are still settling in our County, styling themselves Mormons; and intending, as we do, to rid our society, "peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must," and believing as we do, that the arm of the civil law does not afford us a guarantee, or at least a sufficient one against the evils which are now inflicted upon us, and seem to be increasing, by the said religious sect, deem it expedient, and of the highest importance, to form ourselves into a company for the better and easier accomplishment of our purpose—a purpose which we deem it almost superfluous to say, is justified as well by the law of nature, as by the law of self-preservation. If ye are faithful, ye shall assemble yourselves together to rejoice upon the land of Missouri, which is the land of your inheritance, which is now the land of your enemies.[5]. Ironically, as a result of his kindness, he was the only Mormon who was positively identified to have participated in the home burnings. A Militia under the command of Samuel Bogart was authorized by General Atchison to patrol the no-man's land between Ray and Caldwell Counties known as "Bunkham's Strip" – an unincorporated territory 6 miles (9.7 km) east to west and 1-mile (1.6 km) north to south. These rumors only increased as reports of the Battle of Crooked River reached the capital at Jefferson City, with accounts of Mormons allegedly slaughtering Bogart's militia company, including those who had surrendered. Agnes Smith, a sister-in-law of Joseph, was chased from her home with two small children when her home was burned. In 1837, the Twelve Apostles left on missions to England, the first foreign mission of the Mormon Church. The men under the command of Lucas were then allowed to ransack the city to search for weapons. [51][52] Although he was sympathetic to the Mormons' plight, Doniphan reminded the Latter-day Saints that the Caldwell County militia could not legally enter Daviess County, and he advised Mormons traveling there to go in small parties and unarmed. On August 19, 1838, Mormon settler Smith Humphrey reports that 100 armed men led by Colonel William Claude Jones took him prisoner for two hours and threatened him and the rest of the Mormon community.[43]. mormon persecutions in missouri 18331835 RICHARD L BUSHMAN the mormon war in missouri began in 1833 when the resi- dents of jackson county drove out the mormonscormons at gun point peace officers militia leaders ministers and merchants joined the mobs they broke into homes whipped men and threatened women destroyed the mormon press and tarred and feathered latter day saint leaders … Unfortunately, the shop had large gaps between the logs which the Missourians shot into and, as one Mormon later recalled, it became more "slaughter-house rather than a shelter". ", "You are d__d Mormons. The rest followed over the next few years, most of … Our husband pitched his tent by a blacksmith's shop. [47], On September 20, 1838, about one hundred fifty armed men rode into De Witt and demanded that the Mormons leave within ten days. John C. Bennett, a disaffected Mormon, reported that Smith had offered a cash reward to anyone who would assassinate Boggs, and that Smith had admitted to him that Rockwell had done the deed. At least one firsthand account asserts local Guardsmen referred to an order issued by the governor that sounds similar to Order 44 as justification for the Haun's Mill massacre. John Whitmer recounts that Smith bribed the guards. The militia promptly arrested Smith and the other leaders. On the same day, July 20, 1833, the W. W. Phelps printing press, which published the Evening and the Morning Star in Independence, was destroyed by a mob. [18], Many people connect Governor Boggs' order directly to the Haun's Mill massacre on October 30, 1838. The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the state if necessary for the public peace—their outrages are beyond all description. Mormonism became somewhat of a religion of the oppressed in its early history. [97] Brigham Young recounts that, once the militia was disarmed, Lucas's men were turned loose on the city: [T]hey commenced their ravages by plundering the citizens of their bedding, clothing, money, wearing apparel, and every thing of value they could lay their hands upon, and also attempting to violate the chastity of the women in sight of their husbands and friends, under the pretence of hunting for prisoners and arms. Shortly after what Mormons consider to be the restoration of the gospel in 1830, Smith stated that he had received a revelation that the Second Coming of Christ was near, that the City of Zion would be near the town of Independence in Jackson County, Missouri, and that his followers were destined to inherit the land held by the current settlers. Lyman Wight took his army and attacked Millport. [citation needed], A little less debatable is the question of the murder of defenseless, unarmed men and boys.[19]. This triggered a brawl between the bystanders. The soldiers shot down our oxen, cows, hogs and fowls, at our own doors, taking part away and leaving the rest to rot in the streets. Philindia Myrick's affidavit is representative of the declarations made by other Mormons who had been driven from Missouri during the fall and winter of 1838-39. "If found, they will be shot down like dogs," warned Hyrum. They moved into a blacksmith shop, which they hoped to use as a makeshift defensive fortification. The order was supported by most northwest Missouri citizens but was questioned or denounced by a few. Previously, Governor Boggs had received word that Mormons had driven several citizens of Daviess County (north of Caldwell) from their homes. They also reported the existence of the Danite group among the Mormons and repeated a popular rumor that a group of Danites was planning to attack and burn Richmond and Liberty. In an effort to keep the peace, Alexander William Doniphan of Clay County pushed a law through the Missouri legislature that created Caldwell County, Missouri, specifically for Mormon settlement in 1836. Mormon leaders appealed to the state legislature to overturn the requirement that they leave the state, but the legislature tabled the issue until a date well after that when the Mormons would have left the state. [71] According to one Mormon witness, the deaths "threw a gloom over the whole place".[72]. It is hard to justify any of the actions taken by the Missourians in order to deal with the Mormons. It is the order of the Governor that you should all be exterminated; and by God you will be. We surrendered all. If they choose to remain, we must be content. [7][8], Executive Order 44 is often referred to as the "Extermination Order" due to the phrasing used by Governor Boggs. [36], When about thirty Latter Day Saints approached the polling place, a Missourian named Dick Weldon declared that in Clay County the Mormons had not been allowed to vote, "no more than negroes". religious persecution on the U.S. frontier. =However, the increasing influx of new Mormon converts moving to northwestern Missouri led them to begin settling in adjacent counties. [20] General David Atchison, a legislator and militia general from western Missouri who had refused to take part in operations, demanded that the Legislature formally state its opinion of Governor Boggs' order, for "he would not live in any state, where such authority was given". By JUSTIN COFFEY The city of Quincy has always been a welcoming community, but never more so than during the winter of 1838-1839 when the residents provided aid, … The presidency responded by urging the dissenters to leave the county, using strong words that the dissenters interpreted as threats. Elder Hyde in his Autobiography, in referring to this incident in his life, says: This summer [1838] I removed with my family to Far West, in Missouri, where I was taken sick, soon after my arrival, with billious fever, and did not fully recover until the spring of 1839. The whole force will be placed under your command. They declare openly that their God hath given them this county of land, and that sooner or later they must and will have possession of our lands for inheritance; and, in fine, they have conducted themselves on many other occasions, and such a manner, that we believe it a duty we owe to ourselves, our wives, and children, to the cause of public morals, to remove them from among us, as we are not prepared to give up our pleasant places and goodly possessions to them or to receive into the bosom of our families, as fit companions for wives and daughters, the degraded and corrupted free Negroes and mulattos that are now invited to settle among us. While not desiring or intending to start any trouble with his Christian neighbors, Rigdon wanted to make clear that the Mormons would meet any attacks on them—such as had already occurred in Jackson County during the summer and fall of 1833, resulting in their forced expulsion from their homes in that locale—with force: We take God and all the holy angels to witness this day, that we warn all men in the name of Jesus Christ, to come on us no more forever. Their Missouri headquarters peace restored, Smith escaped in prayer McBride with his own gun of! ] Mormon residents were harassed and attacked by angry residents who were no truths to the regrouped... The Caldwell County, using strong words that the matter was entirely within the jurisdiction of the terms! Protection and shelter mormon persecution in missouri the Latter Day Saints were to have the defendants appear before a jury... A desirable residence, and have given no cause of offence Lucas then... 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